Parts washer

ABSTRACT

An article-cleaning device comprising a housing open at the top and having a drainboard dividing the interior thereof into an upper cleaning chamber in which is disposed a revolvable article support and into a tank for cleaning liquid below the drainboard, a U-shaped manifold mounting spray nozzles within the cleaning chamber for spraying the cleaning liquid on the articles on the article support. The sprayed liquid is drained back into the tank through an opening in the drainboard and recirculated by recirculating mechanism. Rinsing mechanism is provided for connecting the spraying manifold to a source of liquid under pressure, and handle means for closing the opening in the drainboard together with a drain means for directing the rinsing liquid directly out of the cleaning chamber.

United States Patent [72) Inventor Thomas Peterson P0111510: PATENTS 2 A l N gai Mcmuky, mm 5576' 759,940 9/1953 Germany 134/104 f so 1970 442,188 2/1936 Great Britain. 134/98 Pammed 2 1971 47,689 3/1930 Norway 134/98 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge Attorney-Wicks and Nemer [54] PARTS WASHER 6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs. u s c 3 6 ABSTRACT: An article-cleaning device comprising a housing n s s s s s q s s a s a a a a s s s l s a a s u a 134/98 l34/l03' 134/104 134/175 thereof into an upper cleaning chamber in which is disposed a l s l l t CL 134/200 revolvable article support and into a tank for cleaning liquid 'L' Bosh 3/02 below the drainboard, a U-shaped manifold mounting spray 1 o 34/9689 nozzles within the cleaning chamber for spraying the cleaning l 200 liquid on the articles on the article support. The sprayed liquid I 56] References Cited draiineddbaclt imp :h; tmk throulghran opening in thidrainoar an rec1rcu a e y rec1rcu a mg mec amsm. ms1ng UNITED STATES PATENTS mechanism is provided for connecting the spraying manifold 1 /1 l'lallaflel 134/111 to a source of liquid under pressure, and handle means for 1,382,915 6/1921 ugg 134/111 X closing the opening in the drainboard together with a drain g d i g 134/ 153 X means for directing the rinsing liquid directly out of the cleana W1 134/111X in chamber, 2.664.902 1/1954 Campion 134/175 g m 176 I ,1 [4 A 1 :kt?::f;.:: ?,:::i:;:$.=

. I a I 11 P I A1! I 1 i 1 1 11 74 4- 11- i 74-= f 1T4! l m zo'-'74* "1' 1 I l l :1 1 a I i} o 11 5 61 [1. *2 F ".1 T"; 5U /Ja -=1 1 tL--'--"i-- T-i-"'r 4 7 1 I 1 0 I 7 k I50 I56 1 11 IA I: i 1 I1 3 80 ML I00 5L PAIENTEUunv .30 I8" SHEET 1 GF 3 5,1 INVENTOR. TWO/VHS FETERJON ATTORNEYS PARTS WASHER DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elcvational view of an article-cleaning device with the cover shown in an open raised position and portions of the device broken away.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the device substantially on the line 3--3 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a detailed fragmentary view of the liquid supply means to the cover.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6--6 of FIG. 3. portions of which have been removed.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of FIG. 3, portions of which have been removed.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary view of the drainboard dump door.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the bearing support for the rotating turntable.

Description Referring to the drawings in detail, the article-cleaning device A includes the housing 16 having a lateral wall structure including the front wall 18, the first sidewall 20, the second sidewall 22, the rear wall 24, the top cover 26 and the bottom 28. Further provided is the inclined inner bottom 30 on which is mounted the first vertical wall 32 formed with opening 34, the central vertical wall 36 formed with opening 37, and the angularly disposed screen 38. The staggered openings 34 and 37 provide a tortuous path for the cleaning fluid. The upper edge of the wall 32 is secured to the underside of the inclined drainboard 40, and the upper edge of the screen 38 is secured to the underside of the drainboard 40.

The upper'edge of wall 36 is secured to the underside of drainboard 40. The walls 32 and wall 20 form a first compartment 33. The walls 32 and 36 form a second compartment 39, and walls 36 and 22 form a third compartment 41. The lower portions of the walls below the drainboard 40 forms a tank with the various compartments.

The drainboard 40 is provided with a discharge opening 43 closed by the drain door 42 pivotally mounted on and between the walls 18 and 24. The drainboard 40 and door 42 form part of a collecting means. The door 42 has formed thereon the conduit 44 formed with the spaced inlet openings 46. The door 42 is moved from the closed position of FIGS. 3 and 8 to the open position of FIG. 3 shown in broken lines by means of the handle 47 mounted on the front wall 18 which extends through the arcuate slot 49 of wall 18 and connects with the conduit 44 so as to allow pivoting of the drain door 42 from outside the housing 16. The conduit 44 extends to a point outside wall 24 for rinsing as hereinafter described. The tube 44 acts as a hinge pintle for the door 42. Further, the door 42 forms a cutoff means for the collecting means.

The conduit 44 is a discharge member used to drain rinse water with the door 42 closed. The numeral 48 designates a manifold which is U-shaped in formation and includes the tubular cross member 50 which is connected at one end to the first side tubular member 52 and connected at the other end to the second side tubular member 54. The manifold 48 is supplied with liquid by means of the supply line 56 connected to an extension of the manifold member 54 which extends outwardly of the housing wall 20. The supply line 56 is connected to side tubular member 54 by means of the T connection 57 connected to the line 59 leading through line 56 from the pump 61. The tubular member 52 of manifold 48 is capped at the outer free ends by the caps 58 and 63. The manifold 48 is mounted in the housing by means of the tubular members 52 and 54 extending through and connected to the walls 20 and 22 with the outer end of the tubular member 54 extending through and connected to the walls 20 and 22. Mounted on and communicating with the manifold tubular member 52 is the first vertical liquid supply tube 66 and the second vertical liquid supply tube 68. Mounted on and communicating with the manifold tubular member 54 is the third vertical liquid supply tube 70 and the fourth vertical liquid supply tube 72. Each of the vertical supply tubes has mounted thereon the spray nozzles 74 all directing inwardly and centrally of the housing and the vertical supply tubes are in close proximity to the walls of the housing.

Also provided are the tubes 75 and 77 connected to the manifold 48 with the nozzles 79 thereof spraying upwardly. The nozzles 79 lie just under the turntable and together with the noules 74 form part of the spraying means. Further provided is the cylindrical support 76 which is mounted on and extends through the inner bottom 30 and the drainboard 40. The housing 76 also extends through the bottom 28. Mounted on the lower end of the cylindrical housing 76 is the lower bearing 78 which the shaft 80 is mounted in. The shaft 80 is also mounted in the upper bearing 82 mounted in the upper end of the cylindrical support 76. Secured to the upper surface of the drainboard is the circular guard collar 84 which is concentric with the cylindrical support 76. The upper end of the shaft 80 is connected to the block 86 which is secured to the underside of the circular top wall 88 formed as part of the annular wall 90. The vertical dimension of the wall 90' is such that it overlaps the circular guard collar 84.

The numeral 91 designates a part support in the form of a turntable which is circular in form and formed of the connected and intersecting spaced rods 92. The outer ends of the rods are welded to the circular rim 94. The area of the housing 16 above the turntable is a cleaning chamber. The circular turntable 91 is rotated by means of the pulley 96 mounted on the lower end of the shaft 80 with a belt 98 thereon. The belt 98 is also mounted on the pulley 100 mounted on the shaft 102 of the gear reducer 104, the shaft 106 of which mounts the double pulley 108. The pulley 108 has mounted thereon the belts 110 which are also mounted on the double pulley 112 mounted on the shaft 114 of the motor 116 mounted on the wall 20. On the opposite end of the motor is the shaft end 118 on which is mounted the double pulley 120 with the belts 122 and 124 thereon. The belts 122 and 124 are mounted on the double pulley 126 on the shaft of pump 61 whereby the pump is driven by the motor 116. On the inlet side of the pump is the line 128 connected to the T 130 and connected to the T 130 is the valve 132 on which is the fresh water connection 134. A tank suction outlet pipe 136 extends through the wall 20 and is connected to the valve 138 which in turn is connected to the filter 140. Leading from the filter 140 is the outlet line 142 which connects with the check valve 144. The check valve 144 connects with the T connection 130 connected to line 128 previously described.

A drain valve 146 is mounted on the outlet pipe 148 extending through the wall 18 from the first compartment for draining and cleaning said compartment. An inlet cleanout pipe 150 to which a water supply hose may be attached extends through wall 24 and into the compartment 33 and capped with cap 152. A drain valve 154 communicates with the second compartment 39 by pipe 155 and compartment 39 is provided with the inlet cleanout pipe 156 capped by cap 158 in the same manner as pipe 150. A further drain valve 160 is provided on outlet pipe 161 on wall 18 leading to the third compartment 41 with a cleanout inlet pipe 162 mounted in the wall 24 and capped by the cap 164.

The screen 38 catches coarse foreign matter and holds it in compartment 41 which is cleaned out by introducing water through cleanout cap 164 which forces the water and matter out opposed drain valve 160. Compartments 33 and 39 are similarly cleaned out by cleanouts 150 and 156 together with opposed drain valves 154 and 146, respectively. This cleaning is done only periodically as needed.

Connected to the T 166 on tubular member 54 of the manifold 48 is the feedline 168 which is connected to the pressure relief valve 170 by means of T connection 172. Connected to the T connection 172 is the valve 174 which is connected to the flexible hose line 176. Hose line 176 is connected to cover manifold 178 formed of pipe 180 which communicates with pipe 182 secured at a right angle to pipe 180. Each of the pipes 180 and 182 has nozzles 184 with the manifold 178 mounted in the cover 26 hingedly mounted on the upper edge of wall 24 by means of the hinge 186. The nozzles 184 together with the nozzles 74 and 79 form a spraying means.

Connected to the wall 24 by means of the brackets 188 and 190 is the pipe 192 and mounted on the top of the pipe is the pair of brackets 194 which mount the sheave 196. The numeral 198 designates a cable connected at one end to the cover 26 and passed over the sheave 196 downwardly into the pipe 192 where it is connected to the weight 200 slidable in the pipe. This forms a counterbalance for the cover.

Further provided are the electrical heater elements 202 and 204 mounted in the box 206 on the wall 24 and extended into the compartments 33 and 39, respectively. A powerline 208 is connected to the box 206 for providing current to the heater elements 202 and 204. A conventional thermostat for each heater is mounted in the box 206 for controlling the temperature of the heaters. Conventional switches (not shown) are provided for the heater elements and the motor.

The circulation of the cleaning fluid during the cleaning operation is specifically as follows. Fluid in the tank 41 is sucked from the tank through the suction line 136, through the line 142, line 128 by means of pump 66 and pumped by means of pump 66 through line 56, through T 57 to side tubular member 54 of the manifold 58. The flow is out the manifold into the vertical supply tubes 66, 68, 70 and 72 and from the same it exits through the nozzles 74 onto the part to be washed on the turntable 91. The circulation is also through line 168 to the cover where it comes out the nozzles 184 of the cover manifold 178.

The cleaning solution travels from the part down to and upon the drainboard 40 where it runs out the opening 43, which can be closed by the door 42 and into the tank 41 where it is recirculated out the suction line 136 as heretofore described. The rinsing cycle and circulation has been heretofore described.

OPERATION In using the washer A a cleaning solution is put in the interconnected compartments 33, 39 and 41 of tank 45 which compartments are interconnected as described. The heaters 202 and 204 are actuated to heat the solution. A part or parts to be washed is placed on the turntable 91. The cover 26 is then closed. The motor 116 is started which operates the pump 61 and the turntable 91. Cleaning solution is pumped out of the nozzles 74 and 184 and also nozzles 79 which sprays on the part placed on the turntable as it rotates. With this operation the door 42 is open so that the cleaning solution falling off the parts enters the compartments or tank section whereby the solution is recirculated. After the part is cleaned, valve 132 is opened and door 42 is closed by means of handle 47. A rinse or fresh hot water line (not shown) is attached to the valve 132 which directs fresh hot water to the pump 61, the check valve 144 closing to prevent water from backing into the filter 140. Fresh hot water then comes out of the nozzles mentioned which rinses the solution off the cleaned part or parts.

With the door 42 closed the rinse water is kept from the solution in the tank 41, exits out the holes 46 in tube 44, for the water is directed to the tube 44 due to the angular disposition of the drainboard 40. The outer end of tube 44 is connected to a line (not shown) which is directed to a sewer. The motor and heaters are then turned off. The solution in the tank compartments remains to be used on a subsequent cleaning operation, the rinse water kept from the cleaning solution by means of the door 42.

Having now fully illustrated and described the invention, what is claimed to be new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In an article-cleaning device including a housing having a lateral-wall structure with an opening at the upper end of the same, a closure therefor, a bottom forming with said wall structure a tank for the reception of a cleaning fluid, a cleaning chamber above said tank, a rotary article support in said cleaning chamber, spraying means in said chamber, and a source of rinsing liquid, the combination of:

a. a pump whose inlet is connected to said tank and whose outlet is connected to said spraying means, collecting means for collecting the sprayed liquid, conducting means for conducting the liquid from the collecting means and back to the tank,

(1. valve means for disconnecting the inlet of the pump from the tank and connecting it to the source of rinsing liquid,

e. shutoff means for rendering the conducting means inoperative and f. discharge means for leading the rinsing liquid from the housing,

g. said spraying means including a horizontal U-shaped manifold with h. one leg connected to the output pump,

i. and withdischarge tubes extending upwardly therefrom having j. spaced inwardly radially directed nozzles located in said cleaning chamber.

2. ln an article-cleaning device including a housing having a lateral-wall structure with an opening at the upper end of the same, a closure therefor, a bottom forming with said wall structure a tank for the reception of a cleaning fluid, a cleaning chamber above said tank, a rotary article support in said cleaning chamber, spraying means in said chamber, and a source of rinsing liquid, the combination of:

a. a pump whose inlet is connected to said tank and whose outlet is connected to said spraying means,

b. collecting means for collecting the sprayed liquid,

c. conducting means for conducting the liquid from the collecting means and back to the tank,

(1. valve means for disconnecting the inlet of the pump from the tank and connecting it to the source of rinsing liquid,

e. shutoff means for rendering the conducting means inoperative and f. discharge means for leading the rinsing liquid from the housing,

g. the collecting means comprising a drainboard in the form of a hopper extending at an angle to the horizontal and across the wall structure above said tank and directly below the article support and h. having an opening in the lowermost part of the same serving as conducting means for conducting the sprayed liquid deposited upon the drainboard into the tank,

i. said collecting means further including the bottom of said tank parallely disposed to said drainboard and j. drain means at the lowermost end of said bottom.

3. 1n an article-cleaning device including a housing having a lateral-wall structure with an opening at the upper end of the same, a closure therefor, a bottom forming with said wall structure a tank for the reception of a cleaning fluid, a cleaning chamber above said tank, a rotary article support in said cleaning chamber, spraying means in said chamber, and a source of rinsing liquid, the combination of:

a. a pump whose inlet is connected to said tank and whose outlet is connected to said spraying means,

b. collecting means for collecting the sprayed liquid,

c. conducting means for conducting the liquid from the collecting means and back to the tank,

d. valve means for disconnecting the inlet of the pump from the tank and connecting it to the source of rinsing liquid,

e, shutoff means for rendering the conducting means inoperative and f. discharge means for leading the rinsing liquid from the housing,

g. said collecting means comprising a drainboard in the form of a hopper extending across the wall structure above said tank and below the article support and h. having an opening in the lowermost part of the same serving as conducting means for conducting the sprayed liquid deposited upon the drainboard into the tank,

i. said shutoff means being in the form of a door adapted to close the opening in said drainboard and j. is mounted relative to said opening by a hinge whose axis is horizontal and is disposed in proximity to an edge of said opening,

k. said shutoff means being disposed on the underside of the drainboard,

I. said hinge being in the form of a tube issuing from the edges of the door and extending through the walls of the wall structure, and having m. openings along a portion thereof,

n. said tube forming the pintle of the hinge, said tube discharging through the wall structure of the housing.

4. In an article-cleaning device including a housing having a lateral-wall structure with an opening at the upper end of the same, a closure therefor, a bottom forming with said wall structure a tank for the reception of a cleaning fluid, a cleaning chamber above said tank, a rotary article support in said cleaning chamber, spraying means in said chamber, and a source of rinsing liquid, the combination of:

a. a pump whose inlet is connected to said tank and whose outlet is connected to said spraying means,

b. collecting means for collecting the sprayed liquid,

c. conducting means for conducting the liquid from the col- LII lecting means and back to the tank,

d. valve means for disconnecting the inlet of the pump from the tank and connecting it to the source of rinsing liquid,

e. shutoff means. for rendering the conducting means inoperative and f. discharge means for leading the rinsing liquid from the housing.

g. said spraying means including a horizontal U-shaped manifold with h. one leg connected to the output pump,

i. and with the discharge tubes extending upwardly therefrom having j. spaced inwardly radially directed nozzles located in said cleaning chamber,

k. said shutoff means being in the form of a door adapted to close v 1. an opening in said drain board and being m. mounted relative to said opening by a hinge whose axis is horizontal and is disposed in proximity to an edge of said opening.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the door is disposed on the underside of the drainboard.

6. The device of claim 5 in which a. said tank is formed with a tortuous passageway consisting of spaced walls extending across the tank and upon the bottom,

b. with each of said walls having an opening offset from an opening in the other wall through which the cleaning liquid passes to cause precipitation of the sediment therein. 

1. In an article-cleaning device including a housing having a lateral-wall structure with an opening at the upper end of the same, a closure therefor, a bottom forming with said wall structure a tank for the reception of a cleaning fluid, a cleaning chamber above said tank, a rotary article support in said cleaning chamber, spraying means in said chamber, and a source of rinsing liquid, the combination of: a. a pump whose inlet is connected to said tank and whose outlet is connected to said spraying means, b. collecting means for collecting the sprayed liquid, c. conducting means for conducting the liquid from the collecting means and back to the tank, d. valve means for disconnecting the inlet of the pump from the tank and connecting it to the source of rinsing liquid, e. shutoff means for rendering the conducting means inoperative and f. discharge means for leading the rinsing liquid from the housing, g. said spraying means including a horizontal U-shaped manifold with h. one leg connected to the output pump, i. and with discharge tubes extending upwardly therefrom having j. spaced inwardly radially directed nozzles located in said cleaning chamber.
 2. In an article-cleaning device including a housing having a lateral-wall structure with an opening at the upper end of the same, a closure therefor, a bottom forming with said wall structure a tank for the reception of a cleaning fluid, a cleaning chamber above said tank, a rotary article support in said cleaning chamber, spraying means in said chamber, and a source of rinsing liquid, the combination of: a. a pump whose inlet is connected to said tank and whose outlet is connected to said spraying means, b. collecting means for collecting the sprayed liquid, c. conducting means for conducting the liquid from the collecting means and back to the tank, d. valve means for disconnecting the inlet of the pump from the tank and connecting it to the source of rinsing liquid, e. shutoff means for rendering the conducting means inoperative and f. discharge means for leading the rinsing liquid from the housing, g. the collecting means comprising a drainboard in the form of a hopper extending at an angle to the horizontal and across the wall structure above said tank and directly below the article support and h. having an opening in the lowermost part of the same serving as conducting means for conducting the sprayed liquid deposited upon the drainboard into the tank, i. said collecting means further including the bottom of said tank parallely disposed to said drainboard and j. drain means at the lowermost end of said bottom.
 3. In an article-cleaning device including a housing having a lateral-wall structure with an opening at the upper end of the same, a closure therefor, a bottom forming with said wall structure a tank for the reception of a cleaning fluid, a cleaning chamber above said tank, a rotary article support in said cleaning chamber, spraying means in said chamber, and a source of rinsing liquid, the combination of: a. a pump whose inlet is connected to said tank and whose outlet is connected to said spraying means, b. collecting means for collecting the sprayed liquid, c. conducting means for conducting the liquid from the collecting means and back to the tank, d. valve means for disconnecting the inlet of the pump from the tank and connecting it to the source of rinsing liquid, e. shutoff means for rendering the conducting means inoperative and f. discharge means for leading the rinsing liquid from the housing, g. said collecting means comprising a drainboard in the form of a hopper extending across the wall structure above said tank and below the article support and h. having an opening in the lowermost part of the same serving as conducting means for conducting the sprayed liquid deposited upon the drainboard into the tank, i. said shutoff means being in the form of a door adapted to close the opening in said drainboard and j. is mounted relative to said opening by a hinge whose axis is horizontal and is disposed in proximity to an edge of said opening, k. said shutoff means being disposed on the underside of the drainboard, l. said hinge being in the form of a tube issuing from the edges of the door and extending through the walls of the wall structure, and having m. openings along a portion thereof, n. said tube forming the pintle of the hinge, said tube discharging through the wall structure of the housing.
 4. In an article-cleaning device including a housing having a lateral-wall structure with an opening at the upper end of the same, a closure therefor, a bottom forming with said wall structure a tank for the reception of a cleaning fluid, a cleaning chamber above said tank, a rotary article support in said cleaning chamber, spraying means in said chamber, and a source of rinsing liquid, the combination of: a. a pump whose inlet is connected to said tank and whose outlet is connected to said spraying means, b. collecting means for collecting the sprayed liquid, c. conducting means for conducting the liquid from the collecting means and back to the tank, d. valve means for disconnecting the inlet of the pump from the tank and connecting it to the source of rinsing liquid, e. shutoff means for rendering the conducting means inoperative and f. discharge means for leading the rinsing liquid from the housing, g. said spraying means including a horizontal U-shaped manifold with h. one leg connected to the output pump, i. and with the discharge tubes extending upwardly therefrom having j. spaced inwardly radially directed nozzles located in said cleaning chamber, k. said shutoff means being in the form of a door adapted to close l. an opening in said drain board and being m. mounted relative to said opening by a hinge whose axis is horizontal and is disposed in proximity to an edge of said opening.
 5. The device of claim 4 in which the door is disposed on the underside of the drainboard.
 6. The device of claim 5 in which a. said tank is formed with a tortuous passageway consisting of spaced walls extending across the tank and upon the bottom, b. with each of said walls having an opening offset from an opening in the other wall through which the cleaning liquid passes to cause precipitation of the sediment therein. 